The 7 Day Rwanda Safari takes you on an unforgettable journey through Rwanda’s major tourist destinations and hidden gems. Passing Kigali city while taking a game drives, trekking deep into the mountains of Nyungwe Forest and Volcanoes National Park in pursuit of the critically endangered mountain gorillas and the mischievous chimpanzees. With this Rwanda Safari, you will also travel to Kigali, where you will take part in a city tour and see a variety of sights like the national museum, the art facts, the genocide memorial centre, and much more. Mountain gorilla hiking is also included in the safari at Volcanoes National Park. On a trip to Rwanda, you should not skip this fantastic adventure. The journey includes a stop in Akagera National Park, where you may see a variety of bird species and creatures from the savannah, such as zebras, antelopes, giraffes, and lions. In the Nyungwe Forest National Park, there will also be primate encounters and plenty of opportunity to trek chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, baboons, and other forest primates.
Tour Highlights
Day 1: Pick-up – Kigali city tour and transfer to Akagera and evening game drive
Day 2: Morning game drive and Ihema boat trip
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park.
Day 4: Gorilla trekking experience – optional community tour
Day 5: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest national park
Day 6: Chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk
Day 7: Transfer to Kigali – Departure
Detailed itineraries
Day 1: Pick-up – Kigali city tour and transfer to Akagera and evening game drive
Depending on your location in Kigali, you will meet your driver guide and transfer to Akagera national park. It’s a 3 hours’ drive. En-route Kigali city tour visiting the Kigali genocide memorial site, kandt museum, Ihema art gallery and other places as recommended. With en-route lunch or lunch at the lodge, upon arrival at the park, connect to your lodge with en-route game viewing. Check-in at your booked lodge for relaxation and dinner and overnight at Akagera Game lodge for mid-range/Transit Lodge for budget/Ruzizi Tented Camp for luxury
Day 2: Morning game drive and Ihema boat trip
Wake up early, enjoy breakfast and go for a morning game drive. Search of animals like Elephants, Giraffes, and Buffaloes, lions and several antelope species and introduced Rhinos. Return for lunch at the lodge.
Later afternoon, you will go for a boat ride on Lake Ihema, which will offer you great views of the surrounding areas; hills and swamps. Expect to see Hippos, crocodiles and more bird species. Dinner and overnight at lodge as above
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park.
After breakfast, check-out and drive out of the park to transfer to Volcanoes national park which is a 6-7 hours’ drive with en-route lunch. Upon arrival, connect to visit the Karisoke research center, when you return from there, also visit the Ellen Degenerous campus check-in at your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge for mid-range/Hotel Muhabura for budget/5 Volcanoes national park for luxury
Day 4: Gorilla trekking experience – optional community tour
Wakeup to an early morning breakfast and report to the park headquarters for briefing and allocation of Gorilla trekking groups. Later, you will head into the cold and misty forested slopes of Virunga national park for your Gorilla trek. The trek can be anywhere between 2 to 6 hours depending on the movement of the Gorillas and upon finding them, you will be allowed 1 hour to see and take photos after which you exit the forest. Meet your driver / guide and transfer back to the lodge.
If you feel strong, you may opt for a cultural tour at Iby’iwachu Cultural tour. Dinner and overnight stay at Lodge as above
Day 5: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest national park
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and embark on your transfer to Nyungwe forest national park with en-route sightseeing of the rolling hills of Rwanda and Lake Kivu. Optional stop for a boat trip. Upon arrival, late afternoon, proceed to check-in at your booked lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Nyungwe Top hill view hotel for mid-range/Gisakura Visitor Centre for budget/One and Only Nyungwe house for luxury
Day 6: Chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk
Enjoy breakfast and go for briefing before entering the forest, searching for the active and playful fellows in Nyungwe forest. The Chimpanzees are the easy to spot, as they jump from one tree to another, chattering and laughing. Chimp tracking usually takes about 3 hours. You will then exit the park and drive back to the lodge for lunch.
After lunch, you will go on a walking trail that will take you to the Canopy Walk, a swing bridge 50 meters in length that is suspended from large trees. You will be able to see the amazing rainforest with a bird’s eye view, spotting wildlife moving about below you. Before night fall, you will return to the hotel for dinner as above. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 7: Transfer to Kigali – Departure
After breakfast, check-out and embark on your journey back to Kigali. It’s a 7-8 hours’ drive with en-route lunch and stop at the Nyanze King’s palace and Rwanda national museum. Proceed to Kigali and where you will either be dropped at a location you advise in Kigali or at Kigali airport for your onward flight back home, marking the end of the safari.